Multi-Level and Network Governance in Romania. The Case of the European Energy Policy

The working paper aims to detail the structure and practice of European governance in the energy field, by looking at evidence of multi-level governance in Romania’s policy sector. The study case explores to what extent are multi-level governance patterns applied in Romania by looking at the structural elements (vertical and horizontal distribution of the institutional actors’ responsibilities) and the regulatory style (hierarchical versus cooperative procedures). Previous research in Romania’s government patterns show high incidence of hierarchical procedures, rather than cooperative ones. However, after becoming a member of the European Union in 2007, Romania’s national structures acknowledged the advantages of a more governance-centred system of government. The paper deals with this change in focus and whether the European Energy Policy in Romania can be described as multi-level governance. In the end, the author proposes a series of suggestions for solving the most common governance issues in Romania’s Energy Policy by looking at the procedures implemented in other EU member states.